Vice-Captain Kai stood his ground, his eyes locked onto the colossal form of the titan goblin. The creature loomed over him, its massive frame casting a long, menacing shadow in the dimly lit chamber of the mine. The stench of its foul breath filled the air, and its gnarled, bony fingers flexed in anticipation of the battle ahead.
With a sudden burst of speed, the titan goblin lunged at Kai, its tremendous bulk crashing through the rocky ground beneath it. Kai moved like a wraith, his movements fluid and precise. He ducked under the creature's first swing, narrowly avoiding the crushing force of its clawed hand.
In response, Kai unleashed a flurry of rapid strikes. His weapons—a pair of finely crafted daggers—moved with blinding speed, slashing at the titan goblin's legs and arms. But the creature's thick hide proved to be a formidable defense, and Kai's attacks left only shallow cuts.
The titan goblin roared in pain and fury, its voice echoing through the chamber once more. It retaliated with a devastating swing of its massive club-like arm, aiming to crush Kai beneath its sheer strength. With a deft roll, Kai narrowly evaded the attack, feeling the shockwave of the blow as it shattered the ground where he had stood.
Kai knew that he needed an advantage, something to tip the scales in his favor. As the titan goblin reeled from its missed strike, he seized the opportunity. With a swift, precise motion, he hurled one of his daggers at a large, rocky stalactite hanging from the ceiling. The blade struck true, severing the stalactite from its perch.
The massive stone plummeted toward the titan goblin with unstoppable force. The creature had little time to react as the boulder-sized stalactite crashed into its side. The impact sent the titan goblin sprawling, its agonized roar echoing through the chamber as it struggled to regain its footing.
With the titan goblin temporarily incapacitated, Vice-Captain Kai seized the opportunity to make a strategic retreat. He darted away from the fallen creature, his agile form moving swiftly through the dimly lit chamber of the mine.
The massive stone that had crashed into the titan goblin's side now acted as an impromptu barrier, preventing the colossal beast from pursuing Kai. It groaned and struggled to rise, but the weight of the stone pinned it down, rendering it immobile for the time being.
As Kai distanced himself from the titan goblin, he noticed something odd. The other goblins in the chamber, the very creatures that had initially posed a significant threat, were now watching the scene unfold with an eerie stillness. It was as if the titan goblin had issued an unspoken command to its minions, compelling them to refrain from intervening.
The goblins' evil eyes followed Kai's every move, but they made no attempt to pursue him or obstruct his escape. It was a perplexing development, and Kai couldn't help but wonder if there was some unspoken hierarchy among these creatures, with the titan goblin reigning supreme.
While Kai hurriedly distanced himself from the titan goblin, its piercing cry filled the air, however, what truly widened his eyes was the distant, responding war cry that reached his ears. It indicated the presence of additional titan goblins.
Vice-Captain Kai's heart pounded in his chest as he hurried through the dimly lit mine. Every step he took echoed with the haunting cries of the titan goblin he had just faced, and the realization that there were more of these monstrous creatures.
With each passing moment, the distant war cries grew louder, a cacophony of impending doom that seemed to reverberate through the very stone walls of the mine. Kai knew that he needed to warn Captain Igor and the rest of the group about this horrifying revelation. There was no time to waste.
He quickened his pace, his boots splashing through the shallow pools of water that filled the mine's uneven floor. The path ahead was labyrinthine, a maze of tunnels and chambers that seemed to stretch endlessly into the depths of the earth.
As he rounded a corner, Kai's sharp senses detected a faint sound of footsteps, it was a reassuring sign that he was approaching the main group.
Finally, he emerged into a larger chamber where Captain Igor and the others were gathered, their weapons at the ready. The grim expressions on their faces mirrored Kai's own.
"Captain, we have a problem," Kai began, his voice urgent. "There's not just one titan goblin. There are more of them, and they're closing in fast. We need to retreat and come up with a new plan, or we won't stand a chance against these creatures."
Captain Igor's brows furrowed in deep concern, realizing the gravity of the situation. "How many more, Kai?"
"I heard at least one more responding to the first one," Kai replied, his voice filled with apprehension.
The titan goblins were far more formidable adversaries than they had anticipated, and facing multiple of them was a terrifying prospect.
"We can't stay here any longer," Captain Igor declared, his voice firm and resolute. "We'll retreat and report this to the kingdom. They'll have to send a larger force to deal with these creatures."
With their decision made, the warriors began to withdraw from the underground chamber, the torchlight flickering as they moved deeper into the dark tunnels.
As they are running away, the weight of disappointment and fear bore down on Bennet. He couldn't help but reflect on the expectations he'd had when he was first reborn, the hopes of unlocking an overpowered gift that would make him an invincible warrior was nothing but false hope.
Now, reality has dealt him a harsh hand. He felt like a mere mortal, vulnerable and insignificant, running for his life from creatures of unimaginable power. The comparison to a rat fleeing from a relentless predator struck him deeply.
For hours, they had run without rest, driven by an urgent need to put as much distance as possible between themselves and the nightmarish creatures that lurked below. The adrenaline that had sustained them during their flight had begun to wane, leaving exhaustion and shock in its wake.
Bennet and Hugo, alongside the other members of their party, finally felt safe after entering the gates of the city.
As word of their return spread, guild masters from various factions gathered to hear their account of the dreadful encounter. Bennet watched, wide-eyed, as Captain Igor, a man known for his unshakeable composure started to crack, recounted the gruesome scene they had stumbled upon in those accursed tunnels.
The room fell into a heavy silence as Captain Igor described the enslaved humans, the pregnant women in cages, and the sheer number of goblins and the terrifying titan goblins. His hands shook as he spoke, a testament to the horrors he had witnessed.
Questions and discussions filled the air as guild masters grappled with the implications of this new threat. Fear and uncertainty weighed heavily on the faces of those in attendance. As the chaos of the debriefing meeting unfolded around them, Kai stood apart, calmly taking a drag from his cigar. Unlike Captain Igor, who had been visibly shaken by the horrors they had encountered, Kai seemed almost unaffected.
With a sense of curiosity mixed with admiration, Bennet approached the Vice-Captain.
"How do you stay so composed in situations like this? I mean, what we just witnessed down there... it was beyond horrifying." Bennet asked.
Kai turned to look at Bennet, he offered a small smile before speaking, his voice carrying a sense of wisdom born from years of experience.
"Experience, when you've faced death too many times, it just becomes a normal thing" Vice-Captain Kai answered.
Bennet nodded, his gaze dropping to the floor. He couldn't imagine what it must be like to become desensitized to such horrors, but he couldn't deny that Kai's calm demeanor in the face of danger was indeed a testament to his experience.
"Well, time for me to go," said Vice-Captain Kai.
"Where are you going, Vice-Captain?" Bennet inquired, genuinely curious about Kai's next move.
Kai turned to look at the young warrior, his expression unreadable. "That's not my thing, kid," he replied, a cryptic smile playing on his lips. "Also, I don't think you and the other young warriors will be invited."
Bennet watched as Kai walked away from the discussion, his words lingering in the air. It wasn't long before his prediction came true. The kingdom swiftly organized a formidable extermination party, composed of a hundred and fifty veteran warriors. They marched resolutely toward the mine the following day, leaving behind those who hadn't been chosen, including Vice-Captain Kai, the young warriors, and even Captain Igor.
On the following day, Bennet and his companions awaited with anticipation for the news of the mission's result. When the report eventually reached them, it gave them a conflicting blend of emotions. The individuals who had been trapped in the mine had been successfully rescued, their lives saved from the clutches of the goblins. However, the toll exacted had been exceedingly high – a staggering sixty-two seasoned warriors had met their demise within the perilous depths of the mine. To their surprise, it was revealed that not just one, but three terrifying titan goblins had been lurking there, accompanied by hundreds of their smaller counterparts.
Bennet thought about the loss of so many seasoned veteran warriors, he couldn't help but be awed by how Vice-Captain Kai fought alone against a titan goblin and returned without a scratch. It was an astounding accomplishment, serving as proof of Kai's tremendous strength and unmatched skill.
The image of Vice-Captain Kai facing down the titan goblin continued to fuel Bennet's determination to become stronger while the memory of that battle served as a constant reminder that there was always room for improvement.
With a week of rest granted by the guild to recover from their traumatic experience, Bennet and Hugo seized the opportunity to intensify their training. Every day, from dawn until dusk, they could be found in the guild's training grounds, pushing their bodies and abilities to the limit. They practiced their combat techniques, honed their agility, and worked on their teamwork, all while striving to reach new levels of strength.
While training, something caught the attention of Bennet. His gaze shifted towards Hugo, and a sudden curiosity seized him. He noticed an inscription beside Hugo's name, so subtle that it had eluded his attention until now. Squinting at the tiny letters, Bennet finally deciphered the word: "Prodigy."
A rush of emotions flooded through him as he absorbed the significance of that single word. It explained so much about Hugo's rapid progress and his uncanny ability to not only keep pace with Bennet but occasionally surpass him in their training. The revelation of Hugo's innate talent as a "Prodigy" showed the path of his future, hinting at greatness yet to be fully realized.
Bennet couldn't help but feel a surge of pride for his brother, recognizing the extraordinary potential that lay within him.
"A prodigy eh, I'll have to work even harder," Bennet said with a smile.